Packaging for Selling and Preparing a Combined Food Product

ABSTRACT

A packaging system and method for selling and preparing a food product that is a combination of two or more food items. The system comprises a first container having a first food item therein, a second container having a second food item therein and a mechanism for disconnectedly joining the first container and the second container together. In use, the containers are separated, the food items are separately prepared and at least one of the food items is removed from its container and combined with the other food item to form the desired food product. The joining mechanism can comprise pull-tab devices, threaded connections, slot and pin connections, hook-and-loop connections and the like. A discharging mechanism can assist with discharging a food item from its container. One or more of the containers can be converted into a bowl-like or plate-like receptacle for preparing or consuming the food product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention relates generally to systems and methods for preparing food products. In particular, the present invention relates to packaging systems and methods of food preparation that allow a person to purchase two or more food items that can be separately prepared and then combined to produce a combined food product. Even more particularly, this invention relates to such packaging systems and methods of food preparation that allow the food preparer to purchase a first food item together or separate from a second food item, separately prepare the two food items and then easily combine the food items to produce the desired combined food product for consumption.

B. Background

All food products that are prepared for consumption by one or more persons initially require collecting and then mixing, arranging or other combining of the various ingredients, which can be separately consumable food items, that make up the finished or combined food product that is to be consumed. This collecting and then combining of the ingredients is applicable to all types and forms of combined food products, whether the food product is prepared at home, in a restaurant, by a “street” food vendor or by companies that sell food products at supermarkets and other locations that then require final preparation, such as cooking in a microwave or oven, by the consumer at his or her home. As can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the type and amount of collecting and combining of ingredients necessary to prepare a final combined food product various substantially by the food product. For instance, some food products can be prepared with a minimal amount of collecting and combining of ingredients, typically because the ingredients are few and/or are readily available to the food preparer, while preparation of other food products require substantial effort to collect and combine the ingredients. To assist the food preparer with the process of collecting and combining ingredients to prepare the final food product, many commonly available food products are provided with the food item ingredients included in a single package. As well known in the art, there are many examples of food products that are provided with a combination of food item ingredients.

Many people desire food products that are previously prepared and either are ready to eat (i.e., fast food) or only require heating to eat. This desire has led to a significant increase in fast food outlets, grocery stores that sell cooked food and availability of canned and frozen foods. Unfortunately, many of these food sources, particularly fast food outlets, tend to provide food products that are not as healthy as fresh-prepared food products and, in most instances, are not as tasty. In addition, the variety of food products that are available on a “fast food” basis is somewhat limited. While many canned, frozen and other packaged food products can be more healthy and fresher due to being prepared at home, depending on the individual food product, the available variety of such food products is also somewhat limited. To overcome the limited nature of these packaged food products, make the food products more interesting to those who will be eating the food products and, in some cases, to improve the healthiness of the packaged food products, some food preparers will add their own ingredients (such as fresh vegetables or fruit, meat or cheese) to the food product. To do so, however, does require more collecting and combining effort on the part of the food preparer, which reduces the time-reducing benefit of selecting prepared food products.

One problem with collecting and combining food items into a single combined food product is that often the food items are only available in relatively large containers when the food preparer only wants a small portion of the food item for use with the combined food product. Such a situation results in a significant amount of the food item left over. Another problem with collecting and combining food items into a single combined food product is that the food preparer often has to purchase food items that are a compromise of what the group of people who will be eating the food product, which usually includes the food preparer himself or herself, like to eat. As can be readily appreciated by most food preparers, it can be difficult to make a single combined food product that is made up of food items that are the most desirable of such food items to each person who will be eating the food product. The result is that one or more of those who will consume the food product will be eating something that is not their preferred combination of food items. A problem with preparing a combined food product is that very often the food items that make up the food product must be stored and/or prepared, if prepared at all, differently than one or more of the other food item ingredients for the food product. For instance, some food items can be stored in and served out of a non-refrigerated cabinet while others must be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and then are either combined and eaten in the cold/frozen condition or cooked prior to being combined for consumption. A problem with preparing a food product that is cooked is that not all of the food items are cooked or, if they are all cooked, are not cooked for the same amount of time and/or in the same manner (e.g., oven/stove versus microwave).

One example of a combined food product that includes one or more of the problems identified above is pie á la mode, which typically comprises a slice of pie that is served warm or hot with one or more scoops of ice cream, frozen yogurt and the like frozen food products (which are hereinafter collectively referred to as “ice cream”) on top. As well known, many flavors of pie (though typically fruit or at least fruit-based pie) and flavors of ice cream can be utilized as a food item ingredient for pie á la mode. When purchasing the ingredients to prepare pie á la mode, a person typically must buy an entire pie of a single flavor and an entire container, usually available in pint, quart or half-gallon sizes, of a single flavor of ice cream, such as cherry pie and vanilla ice cream. While this is satisfactory as long as everyone who will be eating pie á la mode likes the same combination of flavors, this creates problems if people like different flavors and/or different combinations of flavors. In addition, if the entire pie and/or quantity of ice cream are not eaten in one sitting, then these flavors will be left over and the next time pie á la mode is wanted the same combination will have to be eaten again. As can be appreciated by many food purchasers and food preparers, it is very rare that everyone who will eat the pie á la mode likes the same combination of flavors. One person may want a different flavor of pie, another may want a different flavor of ice cream and yet another person may want a completely different combination of pie and ice cream flavors.

Another problem with combined food products such as pie á la mode is that the pie food item is prepared differently the ice cream food item. Typically, the slice of pie for the pie á la mode is heated up in a microwave oven or other heating device. In contrast, the ice cream is served frozen, typically by being placed on top of the warmed/hot slice of pie. As such, the two food items cannot be prepared together as a single unit. Although the two food items can be sold and stored together as a frozen food product in a single container, they have to be separated prior to preparation to avoid prematurely melting the ice cream. Presently, there is no convenient packaging system or method to provide for an easy to use combined food product such as pie á la mode.

A variety of other combined food products can have one or more of the problems described above for the pie á la mode example. For instance, cake and ice cream is often desired by the consumer in a variety of different flavors of cake and ice cream. In addition, as with the pie á la mode combinations of cake and ice cream food items are usually prepared differently. Typically, the cake is warmed up by a microwave oven or other heating device or at least allowed to reach room temperature while the ice cream is served frozen. Another example combined food product having problems at least partially similar to those for pie á la mode is mashed potatoes and gravy. Although mashed potatoes are generally at least somewhat uniform in flavor, they can be prepared with a wide variety of different spices, butters and other ingredients that provide different flavoring for the mashed potatoes. Additionally, there are a wide variety of different flavors of gravy that can be utilized with the different flavors of mashed potatoes. Although both mashed potatoes and the gravy are heated, they usually required different heating times to reach the desired temperature for consumption. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, there are a wide variety of combined food products that have problems and issues similar to those described above for the pie á la mode and mashed potatoes and gravy food products.

What is needed is an improved system for and method of preparing a combined food product that allows a person to purchase and prepare the food item ingredients which make up the combined food product in a wide variety of different combinations that require different methods of preparation. Such a system and method should be configured to allow a person to purchase the food item ingredients as a single unit, but in different combinations, and to easily and quickly separate the food items so he or she can prepare the combined food product therefrom. Preferably, the system and method should be configured to allow a person to transfer one or more food items to one or more other food items to enhance or otherwise augment the second food item(s) so as to result in the combined food product. The system and method should be adaptable to a wide variety of different sizes, shapes and types of containers that contain the food items and to being utilized with a wide range of food item ingredients and completed food products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new system and method of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a packaging system and method of use thereof that is useful for selling and preparing a combined food product from two or more separate food items. The packaging system and method of the present invention facilitates the sale and preparation of a food product that is a combination of two or more separate food items, particularly those combined food products that can be made from a wide variety of different food item combinations and/or which require different methods of preparation. In one embodiment, the packaging system and method of the present invention allows a person to purchase the food items as a single unit, separately prepare the food items in their own containers and then combine the food items together in one of the containers for consumption directly out of the container. In another embodiment, the food items can be provided in separate containers that can be removably joined for purchase as a unit and then separated for preparation of the combined food product. In either embodiment, a wide variety of food items can be utilized with the system and method of the present invention to produce a wide variety of different combined food products. Utilizing the packaging system and method of use thereof of the present invention allows a person to purchase and store a combination of food items, separately prepare the food items as appropriate for the food item and/or the food product, and then transfer one of the food items to the other food item to enhance or otherwise augment the second food item and, thereby, produce the combined food product for consumption. The packaging system and method of use thereof of the present invention is adaptable to a wide variety of food items and to containers of different sizes, shapes, compositions and types for storing and, in many configurations, preparing the food items so as to produce the combined food product.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product generally comprises a first container enclosing a first food item, a second container enclosing a second food item and a mechanism for disconnectedly joining the first and second containers together so the two containers may be sold and/or stored as a single unit. The second food item is selected so as to be combined with the first food item and to produce the combined food product, which is consumed. The first container has one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of the first container and a top wall at an upper end of the first container. Together, the sidewalls, bottom wall and top wall define an interior chamber that is sized and configured to enclose the first food item. The second container has one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of the second container and a top wall at an upper end of the second container. Together, the sidewalls, bottom wall and top wall of the second container define an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose the second food item. The joining mechanism interconnects one of the sidewalls, bottom wall and top wall of the first container to one of the sidewalls, bottom wall and top wall of the second container. In a preferred embodiment, each of the two containers have container tab that is attached to at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the respective containers to facilitate opening the container, typically by completely or at least partially removing the subject wall, to access the interior chamber of the container for removing the food item therefrom and/or preparing the food item or the combined food product. In one embodiment, the second container has a mechanism for discharging the food item from the interior chamber thereof. The discharging mechanism comprises an aperture in the top wall of the second container and a push disk disposed in the interior chamber of the second container between the top wall of the container and the second food item. The food item is discharged from the second container by applying force to an upper surface of the push disk in a manner that pushes the second food item out of the interior chamber, typically through an open lower end of the container. In another embodiment, at least one of the first container and second container is configured to be converted into a bowl-like receptacle or a plate-like receptacle that is adaptable for preparing and/or consuming the combined food product thereon. In one embodiment, the joining mechanism comprises a pull-tab connector device having a tape section configured to join the first container to the second container and a tab connected to the tape section to facilitate removal of the tape section from at least one of the first container and the second container. In another embodiment, the joining mechanism comprises internal threads on a peripheral wall disposed on one of the first container and the second container and external threads on the other of the first container and the second container so as to threadably connect the first container to the second container. In yet another embodiment, the joining mechanism comprises a hook members section on one of the first container and the second container and a loop members section on the other of the first container and the second container. In yet another embodiment, the joining mechanism comprises one or more slots on a peripheral wall disposed on one of the first container and the second container and cooperatively disposed pins on the other of the first container and the second container so as to lockedly connect the first container to the second container. A variety of other joining mechanisms can be utilized with the system of the present invention.

The method of preparing a food product of the present invention generally comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first container having a first food item therein and a second container having a second food item therein, with the first container and the second container having a joining means interconnecting one of the sidewalls, the bottom wall and the top wall of the first container to one of the sidewalls, the bottom wall and the top wall of the second container so as to disconnectedly join the first and second containers together; (b) separating the first container from the second container; (c) preparing as necessary the first food item in the first container and the second food item in the second container; and (d) combining the first food item with the second food item so as to produce the combined food product. In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of converting at least one of the first container and the second container into either a bowl-like receptacle or a plate-like receptacle prior to or after the step of preparing the food items. In another embodiment, the second container has a discharging means associated therewith for discharging the second food item from the second container and the method further comprises the step of pressing downward onto an upper surface of a push disk that is disposed in an interior chamber of the second container between a top wall thereof and the second food item therein so as to force the second food item out of the second container through an open lower end thereof before the step of combining the two food items together to form the combined food product.

Accordingly, one of the primary aspects of the present invention is to provide a new system and method for selling and preparing a completed food product that has the advantages discussed above and which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available systems and methods of preparing such food products.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a new packaging system and method of use thereof that provides a wide variety of different food items that can be easily and quickly combined by a food preparer as desired to produce a combined food product.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a packaging system and method of use thereof that substantially improves the ability of a person to purchase and prepare a food product from a combination of different food items in a manner that increases the variability of the final combined food product so as to be appealing to persons liking different food items in their food product.

It is an important aspect of the present invention to provide a packaging system which disconnectedly joins two containers to form a single packaging unit with each container having a food item that is either ready for use in the container or may be prepared in the container so the two food items can be combined to form a combined food product.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a packaging system and method of use thereof wherein each of two disconnectedly joined containers have food items that can be prepared in their own containers and then combined together in one of the containers to form a combined food product.

The above and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of the above presently described and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product configured according to a first embodiment of the present invention showing a first container having a first food item therein and a second container having a second food item therein, with the second container being disconnectedly joined to the upper end of the first container;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the packaging system of FIG. 1 showing the first and second containers separated with the pull tab connector that previously joined the containers disposed between the containers;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the first container of FIG. 1 showing the top wall pulled up to open the interior chamber of the container with the food item therein shown having been heated;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the first and second containers of FIG. 1 showing the first container having been expanded to form a bowl-like receptacle and the second container shown positioned above the first food item with the bottom wall thereof pulled open to open a lower end of the second container;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the second container of FIG. 4 showing a discharge plate having been partially pushed downward to partially discharge the second food item through the open lower end of the second container;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the second container of FIG. 5 showing the discharge plate and second food item pushed through the open lower end of the second container;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the completed food product showing the first container of FIG. 4 with the second food item placed on top of the heated first food item and ready for consumption on a bowl-like receptacle formed by the first container;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product configured according to a second embodiment of the present invention having a mechanism to threadably connect the first and second containers shown with the two containers separated;

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product configured according to a third embodiment of the present invention having a mechanism to lockedly connect the first and second containers shown with the two containers separated;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product configured according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention having a hook-and-loop mechanism to connect the first and second containers shown with the two containers separated;

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the completed food product showing the first container of FIG. 10 with the second food item placed on top of the heated first food item and ready for consumption on a plate-like receptacle formed by the first container; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart summarizing of a method of selling and preparing a completed food product according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed text and drawings are merely illustrative of one or more preferred embodiments and, as such, disclose one or more different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the figures and description provided herein set forth certain examples of the system and method of the present invention, the food items used with the system and method and combined food products produced with the system and method, those skilled in the art will readily understand that these examples are being provided for the purpose of explaining the present disclosure and that the present invention is not so limited.

A packaging system that is beneficially configured for according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is shown generally as 10 in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 8-10. A method that is configured to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is identified as 12 in FIG. 12. As set forth in more detail below and shown in the various figures, the system 10 comprises a bottom or first container 14, a top or second container 16 and a joining means, shown generally as 18, for disconnectedly joining the first container 14 and the second container 16. As also shown in the figures, the first container 14 removably encloses a first food item 20 and the second container 16 removably encloses a second food item 22. The first 20 and second 22 food items are utilized by a food preparer, in manners which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, to prepare a combined food product 24, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 and as summarized in the method 12 shown in FIG. 12. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, both of the containers 14/16 may enclose one or more of the food items 20/22 and/or may also enclose additional food items that can be beneficially used to prepare the combined food product 24. Likewise, although the description below and the figures included herewith only show use of two containers 14/16 that are disconnectedly joined by the joining means 18, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that three or more containers may be utilized with the system 10 and method 12 of the present invention and that two or more different types of joining means 18 may be utilized to disconnectedly join the containers together.

With regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, the combined food product 24 is pie á la mode, shown as ready to eat in FIG. 7, with the first food item 20 in the first container 14 being a piece of pie and the second food item 22 in the second container 16 being a serving of ice cream. A wide variety of different flavors of pie and ice cream can be utilized for the combined food product 24 (pie á la mode). In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, both the first 14 and second 16 containers have a generally cylindrical cross-section that is slightly larger than the first food item 20 and second food item 22 that are respectively disposed in containers 14/16. As set forth below and shown in other figures, a wide variety of different sized and shaped containers 14/16 can be utilized with the system 10 and method 12 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the two containers 14/16 are joined together with joining means 18 configured as a pull-tab connector device 26 having an outwardly extending tab 28 that is provided to allow the user to pull a tape section 30 of the device 26 off of the joined containers 14/16, as shown in FIG. 1, so they can be separated, as shown in FIG. 2, for preparation of the combined food product 24.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, the packaging system 10 would be sold as a single unit in the frozen food or desert section of a grocery or other store with the flavor of the first food item 20 (pie) and the second food item 22 (ice cream) being fixed for a particular combination of first 14 and second 16 containers. The pull-tab connector device 26, as joining means 18, should be selected so as to securely hold the first 14 and second 16 containers together. This will generally require the tape section 30 to be selected so as to sufficiently stick to the two containers 14/16 such that the containers 14/16 will not be able to significantly move relative to each other as long as the pull-tab connector device 26 is in place around where the two containers 14/16 are joined, as shown in FIG. 1. Typically, the pull-tab connector device 26 will have a reinforced member 32, usually in the form of a string or wire-like member, that is fixedly connected to the tab 30 such that when sufficient force is pulled on the tab 28 the tape section 30 will be pulled therewith and the pull-tab connector device 26 will pull off from around the containers 14/16, allowing the user to separate the two containers 14/16, as shown in FIG. 2. The configuration and use of this type of joining means 18 is generally well known to persons skilled in the art. As set forth below, once the two containers 14/16 are separated, the food preparer will be able to separately prepare the food items 20/22 so as to produce the combined food product 24.

The first container 14 has one or more sidewalls 34, with one being utilized in the cylindrically-shaped configuration of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, that extends between a lower end 36 and an upper end 38 of first container 14. As also shown in these figures, the first container 14 has a bottom wall 40 at the lower end 36 and a top wall 42 at the upper end 38. Together, the sidewall(s) 34, bottom wall 40 and top wall 42 define an interior chamber 44 which is sized and configured to hold the first food item 20, as best shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. In one embodiment, first food item 20 is sized and shaped to efficiently fit within the interior chamber 44 of the first container 14, which will generally depend on the shape of the first container 14. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the first food item 20 can generally be formed in any size and shape that is desired by the entity which will produce the system 10 of the present invention. To access the first food item 20 inside the interior chamber 44 of first container 14, the user or food preparer will generally remove, fully or partially, at least one of the sidewall(s) 34, bottom wall 40 and top wall 42. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, access to the first food item 20 in the first container 14 is achieved by removing the top wall 42 by pulling on a first container tab 46 that is fixedly attached to the top wall 42, which is removably attached to the sidewall 34 at or near the upper end 38 of the first container 14. A generally upwardly directed pulling action on first container tab 46 will remove the top wall 42 from the sidewall 34 to open the top of the interior chamber 44 so as to expose the first food item 20 therein. The configuration and use of such mechanisms to pull open a top wall of a container are generally well known in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the material for first container 14 is selected so the food preparer can heat up (whether to an extent that it is warm or hot) the first food item 20 (pie) by placing the first container 14 in a microwave oven or other heating apparatus. The heating up of the first food item 20 can be done with the top wall 42 in place, partially removed or fully removed. As can be appreciated by people who may use the system 10 of the present invention, other types of first food items 20 may be prepared in a different manner, including not be acted upon at all, that is consistent with how the person who will eat the combined food product 24 desires it to be prepared. In one embodiment, once the first food item 20 is prepared it can be removed from the first container 14 and placed in a bowl or on a plate for combining with the second food item 22 after it is prepared. In another embodiment, the first food item 20 can be left in the first container 14 for consumption therefrom. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, the first container 14 is configured such that the user of the system 10 can expand the first container 14 into a bowl-like receptacle 48, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, for ease of adding the second food item 22 to form the combined food product 24 and serving and consuming combined food product 24. If desired or otherwise deemed beneficial, the sidewall 34 of first container 14 can be scored in a manner that makes it easier to expand the first container 14 into the bowl-like receptacle 48. The configurations necessary to have the ability to transform a container such as the first container 14 into the bowl-like structure 48 is generally well known in the art.

The second container 16 has one or more sidewalls 50, with one being utilized in the cylindrically-shaped configuration of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, that extends between a lower end 52 and an upper end 54 of second container 16. As also shown in these figures, the second container 16 has a bottom wall 56 at lower end 52 and a top wall 58 at upper end 54. Together, the sidewall(s) 50, bottom wall 56 and top wall 58 define an interior chamber 60 which is sized and configured to hold the second food item 22, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In one embodiment, second food item 22 is sized and shaped to efficiently fit within the interior chamber 60 of the second container 16, which will generally depend on the shape of the second container 16. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the second food item 22 can generally be formed in any size and shape that is desired by the entity which will produce the system 10 of the present invention. To access the second food item 22 inside the interior chamber 60 of the second container 16, the user or food preparer will generally remove, fully or partially, at least one of the sidewall(s) 50, bottom wall 56 and top wall 58. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, access to the second food item 22 in the second container 16 is achieved by removing bottom wall 56 by pulling on a second container tab 62 that is fixedly attached to bottom wall 56, which is removably attached to the sidewall 50 at or near the lower end 52 of the second container 16. A generally downwardly directed pulling action on the second container tab 62 will remove the bottom wall 56 from the sidewall 50 to open the bottom of the interior chamber 60 so as to expose the second food item 22 therein. The configuration and use of such mechanisms to pull open a top wall of a container are generally well known in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the material for second container 16 is selected so the food preparer can prepare the second food item 22 as necessary or desired to produce the combined food product 24. In the embodiment of the present invention where the second food item 22 is ice cream, for instance to make pie á la mode as the combined food product 24, the food preparer will typically not have to warm up or otherwise do much in the way of preparing the second food item 22. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, different ingredients as second food item 22 are likely to require more preparation than will typically be necessary for ice cream.

As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a frozen food item such as ice cream or the like can make it difficult to remove the second food item 22 from the second container 16. To facilitate the removal of ice cream and other frozen food items from the second container 22 so it may be combined with the first food item 20 to form the combined food product 24, the system 10 of the present invention includes a discharging means 66 associated with the second container 16 that is configured to ease the discharge of the second food item 22 from second container 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, discharging means 66 comprises an aperture 68 in the top wall 58 of the second container 16 and a push disk 70 disposed inside the interior chamber 60 immediately below the top wall 58 and above the second food item 22, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The push disk 70 is sized and configured so as to be able to freely move from at or near the upper end 54 of the second container 16 towards the lower end 52 thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, push disk 70 extends between the sidewalls 50 of the second container 16 such that the edge of the push disk 70 are slidably disposed against the interior surface of the sidewalls 50 of the second container 16. When stored or sold, the upper surface 72 of push disk 70, best shown in FIG. 6, is pressed against the interior surface of the top wall 58 to completely close aperture 68. When the user or food preparer desires to remove the second food item 22 from the second container 16, he or she will push downward through the aperture 68 against the upper surface 72 of the push disk 70 to force the push disk 70 against the second food item 22 and push the second food item 22 towards the opening of the interior chamber 60 at the lower end 52 of the second container 16, as shown in FIG. 5. As he or she continues to push downward against the push disk 70, the second food item 22 will be pushed out of interior chamber 60 at the lower end 52 of the second container 16 and, if desired, onto the first food item 20 in the bowl-like receptacle 48 formed from the first container 14 to form the combined food product 24 (e.g., pie á la mode) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The push disk 70 of the discharging means 66 set forth above can be made out of the same material as utilized for the second container 16. If desired, a plastic film or other cover can be placed over the top wall 58 of the second container 16 to provide an additional seal for the second food item 22 when stored in second container 16.

As set forth above, the pull-tab connector device 26 of the joining means 18 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 disconnectedly joins the first container 14 and the second container 16 together until the food preparer desires to separate the two containers 14/16 for preparation of the combined food product 24. In this embodiment, the lower end 52 of the second container 16 is positioned adjacent to the upper end 38 of the first container 14 such that the bottom wall 56 of the second container 16 is in abutting or near abutting relation with the top wall 42 of the first container 14. When the food preparer pulls on the tab 28, the reinforced member 32 will allow the tape section 30 to be pulled off of the containers 14/16 so the containers 14/16 may be separated. Once the containers 14/16 are separated, the tabs 46/62 will be exposed to allow the user to remove, respectively, the top wall 42 and the bottom wall 56.

The embodiment of the system 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 is generally configured the same as that described above for FIGS. 1 through 7 except with regard to the joining means 18. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the joining means 18 is configured to allow first container 14 and second container 16 to be threadably joined and separated. In the embodiment shown, the first container 14 has an upwardly disposed peripheral wall 74 at the upper end 38 of first container 14 that comprises internally disposed threads 76 which are configured to threadably engage cooperatively configured externally disposed threads 78 on the lower end 52 of the second container 16. While the product is for sale or being stored, the threads 76/78 will threadably engage each other to join the two containers 14/16 together. When the food preparer desires to form the combined food product 24, he or she will disengage the threads 76/79 to separate the two containers 14/16 so the contents thereof may be separately prepared. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the threads 76/78 may be reversed, such that the first container 14 has the external threads 78 and the second container 16 has peripheral wall 74 (which will be downwardly disposed) with the internal threads 76.

The embodiment of the system 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 is generally configured the same as that described above for FIG. 8 except with regard to the joining means 18, the different shape of the first container 14 and the manner in which the second food item 22 is removed from the interior chamber 60 of the second container 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the joining means 18 is configured to allow first container 14 and second container 16 to be lockedly joined and separated. In the embodiment shown, the first container 14 has an upwardly disposed peripheral wall 74 at the upper end 38 of first container 14 that comprises a pair of slots 80 which are positioned to receive a pair of cooperatively configured outwardly disposed pins 82 at or near the lower end 52 of the second container 16. While the product is for sale or being stored, the pins 82 are received in the slots 80 in a manner that joins the two containers 14/16 together. When the food preparer desires to form the combined food product 24, he or she will disengage the pins 82 from the slots 80, by rotating and lifting the second container 14 away, to separate the two containers 14/16 so the contents thereof may be separately prepared and removed. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the placement of the peripheral wall 74 and slots 80 and the pins 82 may be reversed, such that the first container 14 has the pins 82 and the second container 16 has the peripheral wall 74 (which will be downwardly disposed) with the slots 80 positioned to receive the pins 82 therein. In addition to the different joining means 18, the first container 14 is shown with a generally triangular configuration, more like a pie shape than the cylindrical first container 14 of the previous embodiments, that receives the first food item 20 therein. As shown, the system 10 of the present invention allows for the containers 14/16 to be configured differently. Depending on the food items 20/22, the shape and size of the containers 14/16 can be both square, round, triangular, rectangular or other shapes and one of the containers 14/16 can be shaped differently than the other container 14/16, as shown in FIG. 9. This embodiment also utilizes a removable top wall 58 to allow the food preparer access to the second food item 22 inside the interior chamber 60 of second container 16. As with the prior embodiments, a tab 84 is provided for the second container 16 to facilitate removal of the top wall 58 of the second container 16. In this embodiment, however, the tab 84 is fixedly attached to the top wall 58 so the user can pull upwardly on tab 84 to remove the top wall 58 from engagement with the sidewalls 50 of the second container 16 so as to allow the food preparer to remove the second food item 22 from the second container 16. Depending on how the second food item 22 is constituted, the food preparer can scoop, pour, scrape or otherwise remove the second food item 22 from the second container 16 through the opening at the upper end 54 thereof after the top wall 58 is removed.

The embodiment of the system 10 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is generally configured the same as that described above for the previous embodiments except with regard to the joining means 18, the different shape of the containers 14/16 and the structure formed by the first container 14 when the user desires to consume completed food product 24, which comprises mashed potatoes (as the first food item 20) and gravy (as the second food item 22). The joining means 18 of this embodiment comprises a pair of cooperatively configured hook and loop members, such as Velcro® or the like, with the hook members section 86 shown attached to the top wall 42 of the first container 14 and the loop members section 88 shown attached to the bottom wall 56 of the second container 16. The two sections 86/88 are cooperatively positioned such that hook members section 86 and loop members section 88 will engage each other to join the two containers 14/16 together during sale and storage of the system 10. As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, the placement of the hook members section 86 and loop members section 88 can be switched. FIG. 10 also shows the use of containers 14/16 that are generally configured with the same shape, which is square or rectangular, but with being of different sizes. Typically, the quantity of the mashed potatoes (as the first food item 20) is greater than the quantity of gravy (as the second food item 22) that is needed to produce the desired combined food product 24 (mashed potatoes and gravy). The quantities can be adjusted according to the type of food items 20/22 and/or what is desired for the combined food product 24. The embodiment of FIG. 10 also shows the first container 14 being formed into a plate-like receptacle 90 for consumption of combined food product 24. If desired, the first container 14 can be disassembled into a plate-like receptacle 90 with the combined food product 24 left in place thereon so the combined food product can be consumed. If desired or otherwise deemed beneficial for system 10, the sidewall 34 of the first container 14 can be configured in a manner that makes it easier to disassemble first container 14 into plate-like receptacle 90. The configurations necessary to have the ability to transform a container such as the first container 14 into the plate-like structure 90 is generally well known in the art. In addition, the interior surface of the sidewalls 34 and the bottom wall 40 can be made of or covered with material that benefits the use of the first container 14 as a plate-like receptacle 90. For instance, these surfaces can be coated with a material that is likely to reduce leakage of the gravy or other liquid through the sidewalls 34 and bottom wall 40 of the first container 14.

One advantage of the joining means of the embodiments of FIGS. 8 through 10 is that the containers 14/16 can be provided in a mix-and-match type of arrangement. For instance, with regard to pie á la mode as the combined food product 24, a wide variety of different individual flavors of pie (the first food item 20) and/or ice cream (the second food item 22) can be provided to the consumer to allow him or her to mix-and-match flavors as may be desired by the person or persons who will be consuming the pie á la mode. The first food item 20 can be cherry pie, blueberry pie, apple pie, boysenberry pie and the like and the second food item 22 can be ice cream flavored with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mixed berry and the like. Depending on the purchaser's needs, he or she can select a variety of different combinations of pie, such as three slices of cherry pie, two slices of apple pie and one slice of blueberry pie and a variety of different combinations of ice cream, typically in a number to match the number of pie slices, such as three scoops of vanilla, two scoops of mixed berry and one scoop of chocolate. Likewise, the example with the mashed potatoes and gravy food product 24 can allow purchasers to buy a variety of different flavors of mashed potatoes (as the first food item 20) and different flavors of gravy (as the second food item 22), thereby allowing, as an example, one person to have beef flavored gravy on his or her mashed potatoes and another person to have white gravy on his or her mashed potatoes. As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the use of the system 10 of the present invention avoids issues with people not being able to consume their favorite flavors or even eating flavors they do not particularly like and avoids having to purchase or prepare excessive quantities of the two food items 20/22 (e.g., such as multiple pies and/or multiple containers of ice cream).

During or after purchase, the first container 14 having the first food item 20 therein can be joined with the second container having the second food item 22 therein using the joining means 18 associated with the two containers 14/16. Even though the food items 20/22 are purchased separately, they can be joined for storage in the freezer, refrigerator or cabinet, as may be appropriate, for ease of later preparing the combined food product 24. If desired, the store or other entity selling the food items 20/22 can sell the food items 20/22 for one price if purchased separately from the other food item 20/22 (e.g., if purchase only the slice of pie) and for a discounted price if the purchaser buys a matched set of food items 20/22. Various other purchaser incentive programs can be offered by the entity selling the food items.

A number of modifications can be made to the packaging system 10 of the present invention described above. For instance, a wide variety of different types of joining means 18 can be utilized to disconnectedly join the first container 14 and the second container 16 together. In addition to the configurations set forth above, the joining means 18 can comprise cooperatively configured components that allow the two containers 14/16 to be slidably joined together or to be connected by snaps or snap-like mechanism, zipper-like mechanisms (such as used on frozen juice cans), other types of tape or tape-like devices and the like. The configuration and use of these other types of joining means 18 are generally well known in the art.

In addition to the foregoing, the containers 14/16 or a portion thereof, such as the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 34/50 and/or bottom walls 40/56 can be made out of or covered, coated, layered or otherwise provided with material that facilitates preparation of the food items 20/22 therein in a manner that is typically considered desirable for the subject food items 20/22. For instance, the inner surface of the one or more of the top, bottom or sidewalls of either or both the first 14 and/or second 16 containers can be provided with material that facilitates browning of all or a portion of the food item 20/22 when it is cooked in the microwave. Other modifications can be made to one or more containers 14/16 utilized with the packaging system 10.

One embodiment of a method 12 of utilizing the packing system 10 of the present invention is set forth in FIG. 12 included herewith. Initially, a food manufacturer will prepare a first container 14 having a first food item 20 in an interior chamber 44 thereof and a second container 16 having a second food item 22 in an interior chamber 60 thereof. The two food items 20/22 will be selected so as to adaptable for combining, whether by layering, mixing or other means, together to form a combined food product 24. In one embodiment, the two containers 14/16 will be disconnectedly joined together with a joining means 18 so they may be sold and purchased as a combined unit, but later taken apart for separate preparation. In an alternative embodiment, the two containers 14/16 are sold separately but are provided with the joining means 18 so they may be joined together for purchase and/or storage of the combined unit. When a food preparer is ready to prepare a combined food product 24 based on the food items 20/22 in the containers 14/16, he or she will disconnect the containers 14/16 in a manner that is consistent with the type of joining means 18 utilized to connect the two containers 14/16 together. Once separated, the food preparer can prepare the two food items 20/22 as is appropriate for the food items 20/22 and as necessary to achieve the desired combined food product 24. In some circumstances, such as for pie á la mode, one or both of the food items 20/22 (e.g., the ice cream second food item 22) can be served directly out of the container. Often, however, at least one of the food items 20/22 will require or benefit from being heated in a microwave oven, regular oven or other heating device or prepared in another manner that is consistent with the food item 20/22. Preferably, the food item 20/22 is prepared directly in its container 14/16. Once the food items 20/22 are prepared, they are ready for serving and then consumption.

In one embodiment, container 14/16 is configured to be converted into a bowl-like receptacle 48 or a plate-like receptacle 90 so the person eating the combined food product 24 can eat it without having to utilize a separate bowl, plate or other receptacle. Prior to consuming the combined food product 24, the two food items 20/22 must be combined together by removing at least one of these food items 20/22 from its container 14/16. Depending on the food item 20/22 and how it was prepared, the food item 20/22 can be scooped out, poured from, scraped out or otherwise removed from its container 14/16. In one embodiment, at least one of the containers 14/16 is provided with a discharging means 66 to assist in discharging the food item 20/22 from its container 14/16. As set forth above, the discharging means 66 can comprise an aperture 68 in the top wall 58 of the second container 16 and a push disk 70 in the interior chamber 60 of the second container 16 between the inside surface of the top wall 58 and the second food item 22. The user pushes downward through the aperture 68 to drive the push plate 70 down in a manner that forces the second food item 22 out of the interior chamber 60 of the second container 16. Other discharging means 66 can be utilized with the system 10 and method 12 of the present invention.

As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, the combined food product 24 examples of pie á la mode and mashed potatoes and gravy set forth above are provided for exemplary purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention in any manner. For instance, one or more of the containers 14/16 can include multiple food items inside the same interior chamber 44/60 thereof and/or the containers 14/16 can contain multiple interior chambers. For example the first food item 20 can comprise a slice of cake or other desert with sprinkles, chocolate chips, cookie crumbs or like desert-like enhancements in a pouch or other sub-container or the second food item 22 can be a flavored sauce that can be poured or spread on or over the first food item 20. In another example, the first food item 20 can comprise meat and/or other foods, such as turkey and dressing, in the same interior chamber 44 that can be combined with gravy (as the second food item 22) for the combined food product 24 of turkey, dressing and gravy. In yet another example, first food item 20 can comprise one or more vegetables and the second food item 22 can be a sauce, such as a cheese sauce or the like, that is poured on top of the vegetables to form the combined food product. Likewise, the first food item 20 can be one or more slices of meat and the second food item 22 can be vegetables to provide a meat and vegetables meal as the combined food product 24. As stated above, the system 10 can comprise more than two containers 14/16. For instance, a set of three containers can be provided to produce a completed food product 24 of meat, mashed potatoes and gravy, allowing different combinations of the type and flavor of these items. If desired, a fourth container can be joined to produce a completed food product 24 that is a meal of meat, potatoes, gravy and corn and/or other vegetables. The possible food items 20/22 and combined food products 24 adaptable for use with the system 10 and method 12 of the present invention are believed to be nearly limitless. One or more joining means 18 can be utilized to connect adjacent containers together, thereby allowing the purchaser and/or food preparer to customize a meal for a person based on the selection of different food items.

While there are shown and described herein a specific form of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product, said packaging system comprising: a first container enclosing a first food item, said first container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said first container and a top wall at an upper end of said first container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said first food item; a second container enclosing a second food item, said second container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said second container and a top wall at an upper end of said second container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said second food item, said second food item selected so as to be combined with said first food item to produce said combined food product; and joining means interconnecting one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said first container to one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said second container for disconnectedly joining said first container to said second container.
 2. The packaging system of claim 1 further comprising a first container tab attached to at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said first container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said first container and removing said first food item therefrom.
 3. The packaging system of claim 1 further comprising a second container tab attached to at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said second container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said second container and removing said second food item therefrom.
 4. The packaging system of claim 1 further comprising means associated with said second container for discharging said second food item from said interior chamber thereof.
 5. The packaging system of claim 4, wherein discharging means comprises an aperture in said top wall of said second container and a push disk in said interior chamber of said second container, said push disk disposed between said top wall and said second food item and configured to facilitate pushing said second food item out of said interior chamber when force is applied to an upper surface of said push disk through said aperture.
 6. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first container and said second container is configured to be converted into a bowl-like receptacle or a plate-like receptacle that is adaptable for preparing and/or consuming said combined food product thereon.
 7. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said joining means comprises a pull-tab connector device having a tape section configured to join said first container to said second container and a tab connected to said tape section to facilitate removal of said tape section from at least one of said first container and said second container.
 8. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said joining means comprises internal threads on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and external threads on the other of said first container and said second container so as to threadably connect said first container to said second container.
 9. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said joining means comprises a hook members section on one of said first container and said second container and a loop members section on the other of said first container and said second container.
 10. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said joining means comprises one or more slots on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and cooperatively disposed pins on the other of said first container and said second container so as to lockedly connect said first container to said second container.
 11. A packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product, said packaging system comprising: a first container enclosing a first food item, said first container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said first container and a top wall at an upper end of said first container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said first food item; a first container tab attached to one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said first container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said first container and removing said first food item therefrom; a second container enclosing a second food item, said second container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said second container and a top wall at an upper end of said second container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said second food item, said second food item selected so as to be combined with said first food item to produce said combined food product; a second container tab attached to one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said second container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said second container and removing said second food item therefrom; and joining means interconnecting one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said first container to one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said second container for disconnectedly joining said first container to said second container.
 12. The packaging system of claim 11 further comprising an aperture in said top wall of said second container and a push disk in said interior chamber of said second container, said push disk disposed between said top wall and said second food item and configured to facilitate pushing said second food item out of said interior chamber when force is applied to an upper surface of said push disk through said aperture.
 13. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein at least one of said first container and said second container is configured to be converted into a bowl-like receptacle or a plate-like receptacle that is adaptable for preparing and/or consuming said combined food product thereon.
 14. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein said joining means comprises a pull-tab connector device, said pull-tab connector device having a tape section configured to join said first container to said second container and a tab connected to said tape section to facilitate removal of said tape section from at least one of said first container and said second container.
 15. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein said joining means comprises internal threads on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and external threads on the other of said first container and said second container so as to threadably connect said first container to said second container.
 16. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein said joining means comprises a hook members section on one of said first container and said second container and a loop members section on the other of said first container and said second container.
 17. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein said joining means comprises one or more slots on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and cooperatively disposed pins on the other of said first container and said second container so as to lockedly connect said first container to said second container.
 18. A method of preparing a combined food product, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a first container having a first food item therein and a second container having a second food item therein, said first container and said second container having a joining means interconnecting one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said first container to one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said second container for disconnectedly joining said first container and said second container together; b) separating said first container from said second container; c) preparing as necessary said first food item in said first container and said second food item in said second container; and d) combining said first food item with said second food item so as to produce said combined food product.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of converting at least one of said first container and said second container into one of a bowl-like receptacle and a plate-like receptacle prior to or after said preparing step.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said second container has a discharging means associated therewith for discharging said second food item from said second container and said method comprises the step of pressing downward onto an upper surface of a push disk disposed in an interior chamber of said second container between a top wall thereof and said second food item therein so as to force said second food item out of said second container through an open lower end thereof before said combining step. 